Workers’ compensation is for various injuries and illnesses

The workers’ compensation program in California is meant to help protect workers and employers when an injury or illness occurs at work. This program is often associated with injuries that are the result of an accident, but there is much more to the workers’ compensation program.

One of the factors that affects whether an injury or illness is compensable is where it occurred. In order to qualify for workers’ compensation coverage, the illness or injury must have occurred in the course of the person’s job duties or other work-related situations.

Injuries, such as repetitive motion injuries, can occur while a person is working. These injuries do fall under the scope of workers’ compensation because they are often caused or worsened by working duties. A cashier who suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome or a nurse who suffers a lower back injury are two examples of instances in which a repetitive motion injury might be compensable.

Work-related illnesses, such as asbestosis when a worker is exposed to asbestos or lung cancer when a worker is exposed to cigarette smoke, are compensable. The key in these cases is whether the illness can be positively tied to the work conditions that the person deals with at work.

There are some cases in which workers’ compensation decisions aren’t what they should be. In these cases, you have the right to appeal the decision. Of course, there should be a factual and valid basis for the appeal. It must be filed in a timely manner, so don’t waste time if you do find that you need to file an appeal.